Shock-absorber.



E. G. WILCOX & 'B. L. LWTON.

SHOCK ABSORBEB. i ArPLIqATIoN FILED Nov. 11, 1909.

Patented Jam.25,191o.Ik v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` E. c. WILCoX & B. L. LAWTON.

SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLIUATION FILED NOV.11, 1909.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

msi c. WILcox AND kianivroiv L. LAWTON, or'ivinninnncoivivncricufn l SHGCK-ABSORB'ER.

To all it may concern.:

Be it vknown that we,lERNEs'r C. Wi'Loox and iBURTON L. LAWTON, 'citizens of the United States, residing at Meriden, county Fof'New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvel ments in Shock-Absorbers, of which thefolllowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in shock absorbingmechanism for use in connection with vehicles.

The invention `has particular utility in connection with high speed road vehicles suchHas automobiles, the object of the in# vention being to minimize both shock and recoil, thereby not only producing an easier riding vehicle but reducing the danger of, spring breakage.

It is' our purpose to improve the mechan/' .ical constructionin such almanner as to permit these devices to be produced -with the greatest economy lwithout sacrificing dura,- ility and effectiveness.

Inthe drawings,`-Figure '1 isa side elevation of our invention assembled and in normal position; Fig. 2 is Va'plan view there- 'y art ofthe case; Fig. Sis an elevation of thel the 'case and showing the various parts' there.- in in one position; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing said parts in another position; Fig. 5 is a section on the line w-'w Fig. l; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of amodified detail; Fig. 7 isan elevation of the inner side of one inner yside of the other part of the cas g Fig.

. 9 is an edge 'elevation of a detail ,1' Figs. 1Q

and y11 are views of details.

ybearing'springs.

i In the main the construction comprises an oscillating cam member arranged between a` plurality .of springs which exert their pressure against the perimeter of,said cam f. member, so that when the latter is turned in either direction to such anv extent as toput the springs under tension, the spring resistance serves to check abnormal recoil and .abnormal compression of the vehicle or load In other words, the mechanism is double acting. Theshock absorb- Iing springs aresuitably connected with one part of theveliicle, for example, thebody,

while. the 'cam element, which; co-acts with Vsaid springs, is suitably connected with an,

' '.otherpartof the vehicle," for example, the

L shaft'- vor axle; saidshaft'or' axle andfmain l.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application ille-d November 11, 1909. Seritl No. 527,373.

Patented Jan. a5, 1910.

body being themselves connected bythe usual load carrying .vehicle springs As the wagon body moves up and gdown vrelatively .to theaxle and the loadl carrying springs are operated, there is a relative rotarymovement between -the cam and the shock absorbing springs, and-these parts are sodesigned-,that any abnormal downward movement of the body "of the vehicle relatively. to the axle, as

'well `s an abnormal upward or recoil movemen will .be'checked. This checking action' is accomplished wholly by the resistance of the; shock. absorbing springs and without friction, the shock absorber being preferably packed 'with grease or other suitable lubricant, whereby friction and attending wear' are avoided. By eliminating'friction vas a material `controlling element, great durability is afforded and (given a cam of definite shape) the efficiency of theshock absorbing apparatus may be carefully and accurately determined in 'advance since itf depends wholly upon the number and strength of the recoil checking springs carried by the shock absorber case.

We are aware that '-heretofore'lfriction recoil 'devices-of the rotarytype aswell as the -oscillating'and reciprocating type arewell known. but in such devices, friction being de ended upon, rapid wearl occurs, which.l

quickly modifies the accuracy'ofthe apparatus, shortens its' life, andfrequires constant tional engagement between the parts is purposely eliminated. as. far as possible, -and in fact so far as to make itof-no cLonsequence or value in the checking o eration.

readjustment and frequent` replacement of the parts. Our apparatus-operates on a fundamenta1lyf--different principle in that fric'` 490 In the drawings, which s owjtli'e preferred .form of our invention'1 is a lever de si ned to lbe secured at its freel end to the ve icle (for example, to the body) 2 is another'le- -ver designed to be securedl at its free end to.

another part ofthe'vehi'cle (for example to the axle), said body beingvsup'ported on'saidy axle by a load-carrying springA (notshown).

' Thearmsl'and 2 are hinged together as by.'4 a bolt or pin 3'. The arm' 2 i's provided withy a circular' hollowed-out extension 4 concenltric with the axis of bolt 3.- This extension` 4;, in the present instance, constitutes tha-cap of a circular box or case inwhich a camiand shock absorbing lsprings are. located. 'I he ics A ably bent other part of the box or case is indicated at 5 and is hollowedout and so shaped as to form, withthe cover 4, an inclosed chamber havinga centraltransverse passage 1n which 5 is rotatably mounted the two end '-hub extensions of the cam 6. The lever l (which is preferably formed of two arms arranged` tot sti'addle the case above described) 'is -rigidly 'connected to the two hub ends of the` cam 6,sa1d connection being preferably made v `in the manner hereinafter'descri'bed.

. It follows from the foregoing that `asiithe 'free endsof 'the arms-l and 2 move toward :and'fro'm each other, there will be. a relative 6 within the body 5 of krotation of the cam -the'case. In the preferredformof our invention 'the cam 6 is what we may term a three-point cam,"

of a triangle aroundthe cam 6 and within the case 5 whereby a balancingeifect is secured, the'middle portion of each spring 7-7*7 are springs arranged in the form i lying adjacent tothe periphery of said cam.

a are saddle blocks arranged within the case in the form of an arc to fit closely Y against the adjacent inner wall of the case 5,

and supports the. ends of an adjacent spring 7, whereby the strain of said spring is distributed withl substantial uniformity entirely'around that part of the case 5 against which said 'block bears.

9-9 are screws or bolts, which serve to connect the cap 4 and case said screws passing vthroughv said case preferably at points within spring 7- 84-8--8 are anti-friction liners which are carried between the springs -7 and the pen riphery ofthe cam. 6,. said liners being provided to minimize wear. vIn each end of the hub and'around the central portionlthereof i c not only a connecting'means, but also an adi. vrjlistmgmeans whereby the lever membersv side of the Fig l0). In theedge of the is an annular` lng washer it one'another, and likewise so fit upon the hub of the cam, that, .s o far as possible, oil or grease tight joints are provided.

-A' preferred the lever l to the cam6 comprises` at once` may be set at diderent angular vpositionsto .compensate for differently curved load-bearing springs.' To secure this connection -we other at the axisof the cam. 0n the under head of the bolt 3 are a corre-l sponding number-of radial ribs 12-12' (see openin in the lever arm l, in which the hub are a 'corresponding number of recesses (see or locking together j the lever 1 corresponds to 5.'- Each saddle block is prefer- -b the meeting 4angles 'of the groove 10 for receiving a 'pack-2; ll 'to prevent the escape of grease, or whatever other lubricant may be employed.- The parts 4 and 5 of the'case so method of securing parts of r end is ocated,

checked since Fig. 11)., The length of the ribs 12--12 is su icient to not only `stand in the slots in the hub cnd but to also project into the adjacent recesses inthe arm l, thus positively keying onearm of the lever .l cam. The other arm of the arm already described and shown in Fig. 11. This second arm is adapted'to the other hub endv of the cam', and tolock this arm.. in place a washer 14, having ribs on its under side is employed, said ribs engaging in recesses in the adjacent end of' the hub and the surrounding wall of .the arm as above described. A nut 15 binds the bolt 3 ,and washer 14T securely to the hub ends of the cam. By this means both arms of t/he lever l .are positively interlocked with the cam 6. All of the arts, with the exception of the hub and boltfs, maybe made' from sheet metal and in most 'instances said parts may be struck up means of dies, resulting not only in substantial economy but in greatv uniformity, wherey interchangeability is possible. The periphery (or active face) of the cam 6 should be ground or polished whereby its'contact with the liners 210l0 of the springs 7-7 will be practically frictionless. In'order to further guarantee againstfriction it is preferable that the, interior of thecase be packed withgrease or some other suitable lubricant. In some cases wemay desire to employ anti- .riction rolls or balls 16-16 (see modilication Fig. 6) on the spring engaging parts of the cam 6,l butthe provision of such antifriction devices is unnecessary, where.the abutting surfaces of the cam and springs 7-*7 or liners 10-10 are smooth and where lubricant is employed, as explained. c Y In the preferred form of the invention We provide a plurality of spring leaves in each spring 7 whereby the resisting power of the spring -m'ay be modified by removing or adding a leaf as exigencies require. parts of the cam 7-T7 (or` liners 10510). are so designed that the arms'l-Z may such 'an extent as would 'occur while a vehicle `(to which the absorberl is applied) is traveling over an ordinary road, with but little or no eifectupoh the springs 7,-.' In the even-t,- owever, the vehicle encounters a severe jolt tending to abnormally compress theload carrying spring, the cam is sodesigned that when would be required under such will ie'x the springs 747, whichthereupon act to absorb a substantial part'of the extra jolt andto that extent relieve the strain on the load carrying spring. On recoil likewise it. is yonly the excessive recoils' thatare the. design of thecam -only with one end of the and very rapidly produced byl or polished The low l 6 whichengage the springs be moved to and fro to i llexes the s ring onv the se aratioii of the i free ends o the levers 1 an -2 to an extent morethan occii'rsinthe normal operation of 'the absorber, that is, un'der the normal ,road

conditions. f `From the foregoingit will be seen that underV normal` road conditions (which we might-say implies a reasonably good road) 1 vthe shock absorbing element is performing iio. work'and'is undergoing nostraiii.` When, .howcver, a bad'piece of road is encountered andthe vehicle is'subject-ed to severe' .jolts, the absorbing device comes into pla-y to the extent -of checking abnormal' compressionV and abnormal recoil of the load carrying spring, correspondingly .minimizing danger of spi'in breakage, and adding to -thecom fortof t eloccupant ofthe vehicle. By rea-A soii of t-his arrangement it will be seen'that there is little or no 'wear yon the various parts, and the arrangement of the springs is such as to balance the strainiiipoii the hub.

scribed of 'substantially no shock absorbing action 'under normal .road conditions, it is ,vent the creeping around of tlie'sprin f within the case 5; indeed, Y

merely necessary to .forni the lower arty of' -the cam u on the arcof a Vcircle struc from the axis o the bolt 3, the high. parts only of the c am 4being designed to resist pro erly abnormal compression and reaction o the load bearing spring.

i It will be seen that'the bolts 9-9 not only serve as a means Vfor effectively securing the parts 4-5of the casel together but also rprep;

and saddles 7 'thatpartei themetal struck in inthe form- -ing of the holes to receive the bolts 9-9-ma project between the ends of thesprings7- so as to operate as a' means to kprevent lsaid .springs from creeping around. 4It should be understood, of course,th at the shape of the -cam ma be modified to a substantial extent, the s 'ape indicated in `the drawings f b eiii illustrative rather thandefinitive.

' at we claim isz- 1. A shock labsorber, comprising two rela-' tivelyro'tatable parts, one part comprising a cam,'th other part 4comprising a case surrounding andl supporting said cam, a lever carried'by each part and projecting laterally l ntherefrom, said cam'havingaplurality 1of ing high points, a correspon number jof 4springs arranged and held 'within thecase,

' each spring beari'ngagainst 'said 'cam between two of saidhi h points and arranged tojbe operated bybot of said high points.v

Varranged, in' triangular 'form aroun cam, each s rlng coperatingv with said cam A2. A shock absorber comprising two relativelyrotatable parts, one 'part comprising ai cam, the other part 'comprising-a case sur,- roundingand supporting said cam, a lever V'carried vby each part and projecting laterally therefrom, said cam-having three high points arranged equidistaiit, three s rings 'at a point etweentwo of the high points thereon and being arranged to be operated by either ofsaid high points.

3. A shock-absorber comprising two rela.

tively rotatable parts, one p art comprisinga cam, the other part-comprising a 'case suri'ounding and supporting said cani, a lever carried by each' part and projecting laterally therefrom, said cam having three high points arranged equidistant, three s ringi' sai arranged in triangular form aroiin cam, cach s ring coperating with said cam ata point etweentwo of thehigh 4points thereon and beine arranged to be operated by either of said iig'h points, and means Vto v.prevent said springs from moving around Vin said'case.

4." A shock absorber comprising two rel-' atively rotatable parts, one part comprising .a cam, the other part vcomprising a case sur- 'rounding and support-ing said cam, a lever .95' ally therefrom, said cam having threeshigh carried by each partand projecting latei points -arranged equidista.nt,three springs arranged in triangular. Vform around said cam, eicli' spring coperating with said cam at a' point between two of the high points thereon Vand being arranged to be operated by either of said high points, and means toxpre` vent said springs from moving around in said said case, said means comprising pins passing transversely throughv the case and be' tween the ends of adjacent springs.

l5. A shock absorber comprising twojrelatively -rotatable parts, one part comprising a cam,.tlie other part comprising a twolpart circular case surrounding and supporting said cam, a lever carried by the earn and another lever carried by the casefor operating said parts, said cam having lthree high points, the perimeter of said cam being smooth, three springs arranged on the three sides of'sai'd cam to center 'and balance the same', each of said springs coacting with two of thehigh points on said cani.

-6. A shock absorberV comprising two re1- atively' rotatable parts, one part comprising la cam, the other part c'oniprising a two-part circularcase surijounding and supporting saidcam, a lever carried by the'cam and ansaid parts said 'cam havingthree high other lever ca-rriedi by the'ease for operatinr two of the high points on said cam, and pin's springs ino' for securingl the-tw() parts ofthe case to# gether, said pinsvholding saidY springs from displacement withinsaid case,

7; In afshock absorber, a.circular 'sheet metal case comprising two parts, both of saidparts being hollowed out, one part overlappmg and fitting `the other to form a clo- Ysure for the same, a central perforation in each of said parts, a cam arranged within the case, said cam having a hub extension at Y each end,l said hub extension taking a' bear Aing inthe perforation in the adjacent pa-rt of the case, a plurality of springs held wilhf in the case and coperating with the cam, a plurality of high points on the cam, each spring coperating with two of saidV high points, all of the joints between said parts being substantially` grease-tight whereby said case'may bc packed with a suitable lubricant. f

8. In a shock absorber, a circula.;` sheet metal case com rising two parts, both of said parts being ollowe-d out, one part overlapping and {it-ting the otherto form a closure for the same, a central perforationin each of said parts, a cam arranged within the case, said cam having a hub extension at each end, said hub extension taking a bearing in the perforation in the adjacent part of the case, a pluralityof springs held within the case and coperating with the cam,

a plurality of high points on the cam, each' spring coperating with two, of vsaid high points, all of the joints between said parts being substantially grease-tight whereby said case may be packed with a suitable lubricant, said grease-tightl joint/s including u packing washer between the cam and case.

9. In a shock absorber, a. sheet metal case comprising two parts, one of said parts fitting within the other, a lever integrall connected' with the outermostV part of sai case, a central passage through both parts of the case, a cam having oppositely extending hubs mounted in the central passa-ge of sai case, said cam having a plurality of high points, a lever connected to the hub of said cam, and springs arrangedY and held within the case a ainst displacement, each of said arranged to co-act with said cam and to be operated by at least twoof the hi h points thereof,

10. n a shock absorber, a sheet meta-l case comprising two parts, one osa-id parts fit- /ting within the other, a lever integrallyy connected with the outermost part o said case,

a central passage thrcugh both parts of the case, a cam having oppositely extendin hubs mounted in the central passage ofsai case, lsaid cam having a plurality of Vhi h points, a lever connected to the hub of said cam, and springs arranged andheld within bearin the case against displacement, -each, of .said springs being arranged to co act withsaid cam ,and to be operated vby atleast two of the. high points thereof, that part of the .cam.

against each -spring when the parts are un er normal operation Vbeing so shaped as to exert a substantially uniform pressureV lagainst saidsprings whereby under normal action no substantial .resistance is oered to the relative rotary movement of the cam within the case.

11. In a shoclt'r..-absorber, a case, a camA mounted therein and rotatable relativel thereto, said eam having at least three hi parts, those" parts ofithe cam approximat y midway between said, high partsfbeing shaped substantially-fito the arc of a circle concentric with! the airis'of the cam, three springs arranged around said cam to centralize and ba normally co-acting with those arts of the camshaped to substantially tie arc of a.'

mounted therein and rotatable relatively thereto, said cam having at least three hi hparts,'those parts of the cam approximate y midway between said high parts being shapedsubstantially lto the arc of a circle concentric with the airis of the cam, three springs arranvfed around said cam to cenltralize and bazlancethe same, said springs normally co-acting with those parts of the cam shaped to substantially the arc of a circle whereby'said cam may be rotated .to a substantial .extent without substantially operatin said springs and whereby only abnorma rotation'of said cam within the casewill operate said springs, and means for retaining a lubricant withinthe case to lubricate the contacting surfaces between said cam and sprin 13. In Va shock ssorber, a circular case composed o f two parts, one part being hollowed out, the other part operating as a cap or closure therefor, a central passage throu h' said lcase, a cam mounted in said, centra passage, said cam having at least three high parts, a lever secured to the case and another lever secured to the cam2 whereby said parts may be rotated relatively to each other, three flat springs held within said case and arranged adjacent to the periphery of the cam and normally engaging the low parts thereof and exerting a centering effect' upon the cam and case, said cam' ance the same, said springs 14. Ina shock absorber, acam having at' Y least three high points,` -a llever*'extending tralize said cam within the case to relieve 10 therefrom,` a case surrounding said ca ml an 'the strain vupon the bearing between the arrangedxtchold `11.(1ubrim1r-l1t therein,a 1elver cam and case. l" v ro'ectin rom sai case ats rin wit 1in 'S gli provided 12u a nllmbge' corresponding to the numberl of highlpointsfon-l' v a, l f l fsaid cam and 'normally;'coractixgwithsaid:I @Witness cem-,at ointsffsb'stfantially midway; between V. KoonEMAN, the'hig points'thereof,v land serving to cen- -C. M. BAn'rLE'rr. 

